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According to a new study, the long accepted theory of how the moon was formed may have to be reexamined. A recent study has revealed that the interior of the moon held water early in its lunar history. Some scientists speculate this new information may clash with the current explanation for how the moon was formed.
Examining samples collected from the moon during the Apollo missions, a research team at the University of Michigan has determined that the interior of the moon used to contain water . The samples that were studied were collected from the lunar highlands, which is considered the original lunar crust. At its start, the moon was made mostly of molten material until the crust solidified into the moon we see now. The new study suggests that there was water present within the moon while it was still in its molten phase.
Until now, most scientists have agreed that the moon was formed by debris leftover from a small-body planet impact with Earth. According to this theory, any water found on the moon was brought there after its formation by solar winds or small meteorites. In essence, the new research says the moon contained water before it solidified while the old theory insists water was brought to the lunar surface after its formation by various objects on impact.
“Because these are some of the oldest rocks from the moon, the water is inferred to have been in the moon when it formed,” said Youxue Zhang of the University of Michigan. “This is somewhat difficult to explain with the current popular moon-formation model, in which the moon formed by collecting the hot ejecta as the result of a super-giant impact of a martian-size body with the proto-Earth.”
Read more here.
Examining samples collected from the moon during the Apollo missions, a research team at the University of Michigan has determined that the interior of the moon used to contain water . The samples that were studied were collected from the lunar highlands, which is considered the original lunar crust. At its start, the moon was made mostly of molten material until the crust solidified into the moon we see now. The new study suggests that there was water present within the moon while it was still in its molten phase.
Until now, most scientists have agreed that the moon was formed by debris leftover from a small-body planet impact with Earth. According to this theory, any water found on the moon was brought there after its formation by solar winds or small meteorites. In essence, the new research says the moon contained water before it solidified while the old theory insists water was brought to the lunar surface after its formation by various objects on impact.
“Because these are some of the oldest rocks from the moon, the water is inferred to have been in the moon when it formed,” said Youxue Zhang of the University of Michigan. “This is somewhat difficult to explain with the current popular moon-formation model, in which the moon formed by collecting the hot ejecta as the result of a super-giant impact of a martian-size body with the proto-Earth.”
Read more here.
